Aquatic amusement device



y 28, 1963 s. A. BENNETT AQUATIC AMUSEMENT DEVICE Filed Aug. 19, 1960 INVEN TOR.

SHERMAN A- BEAM/E 77- ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,091,453 AQUATIC AMUSEMENT nEvrc Sherman AIBennett, 186'Eim Drive, Bayshore, N31. Filed Aug. 19, 1960, Ser. No. 50,653 X 3 (Jlairns. (Cl. 272-41) The present invention relates to an amusement device of the aquatic type.

C i d n of a a e hav s m ha n they are playing in a body of water, a hand shaped to a scoop can force a spray or stream of water a relatively long distance when the hand is propelled forwardly over the surface of the water with a portion of the palm of the hand below the surface of the water. Competitive games have been invented and enjoyed by the children when so forming sprays or streams of water and directing the same against their opponents or against a buoyant body such as a beach ball.

An object of the present invention is to provide an amusement device which permits a user thereof to direct the spray or stream of water a distance greater than is possible by using the hand of the user as a scoop.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an amusement device which affords the user thereof optimum amusement and permits exercise of the muscles of the arms and therefore may be used to advantage by persons recovering from muscular illnesses or the like, one which "adds interest to water play and may be employed in numbers for water display purposes and events, and one which is highly effective in action.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an amusement device for forming "a stream or spray of water which may be manufactured in any size and from many available materials, one which lends itself to manufacture at reasonable cost, and one which is commercially practical.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be fully apparent from the following description when taken in conjunction with the annexed drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of the device in use, shown attached to the hand of a user;

FIGURE 2 is a front elevational view;

FIGURE 3 is a view taken on the line 3-3 of FIG- URE 2; and

FIGURE 4 is a top plan View of the device of the present invention.

Referring to the drawing in which like numerals indicate like parts throughout the several views, the device of the present invention is designated by the numeral and it comprises an elongated open ended tunnel member 12 tapering from one end 14 to the other end and having the one end 14 bowed toward the other end and shaped to a gathering means or scoop 16 and having the other end shaped to a stream-forming means or nozzle 18.

Means is provided exteriorly of and on the upper side of the tunnel member 12 between the scoop 16 and the nozzle 18 for insertion therein of a hand of a user, as in FIGURE 1, a hand of a user being designated by the reference numeral 20.

Specifically, this means consists in a flexible loop 22, fabricated of cloth, woven plastic threads, or the like, having its ends fixedly secured to the tunnel member 12 between the scoop 16 and nozzle 18, as shown most clearly in FIGURE 2.

In use, the user of the amusement device of the present invention inserts the fingers of one hand into the loop 22 so as to snugly support the member 12 forwardly of the palm of the hand, as in FIGURE 1. The member 12 is then positioned in an upwardly-sloping direction 3,991,453 Patented May 28, 1963 over a body of water, FIGURE 1, with its underside above and adjacent the surface of the body of water, the upper side remote from the surface of the body of water, the scoop 16 submerged below and adjacent the surface of the body of water, and the nozzle 18 adjacent to and spaced above the body of the Water. With the application of a forward stroke of the users hand, the tunnel member 12 will receive water through the scoop 16, convey the water through the tunnel member 12 and eject the water through the nozzle 18 in the form of a spray or stream, it being only necessary to position the tunnel member 12 so that the scoop 16 is submerged below and adjacent the surface of the body of water in which the user is playing. When so positioned, the nozzle 18 will project forwardly above and spaced from the surface of the body of water so as to project the stream of water for a distance over the surface :of the body of water.

Competitive games may be played by the user of the amusement device of the present invention, buoyant balls may be driven by the streams of water ejected by the device when worn on the hand of a user, and the device may be used in numbers to create displays for water pageants and the like, as desired.

What is claimed is:

1. An amusement device for use upon a body of water comprising an elongated open-ended tunnel member tapering from one end to the other end, said one end being bowed toward the other end and shaped to a scoop, the other end of said member being shaped to a nozzle, said tunnel member being positionable in an upwardly sloping direction over said body of water with the underside :of said member above and adjacent the surface of said body of water, the upper side of said member remote from the surface of said body of water, the scoop submerged below and adjacent the surface of said body, and the nozzle adjacent to and spaced above said body of water, and means enteriorly of and on the upper side of said tunnel member between the scoop and nozzle for insertion therein of a hand of a user, said tunnel member being operable when in the aforesaid position with the hand of a user insented in said means upon application of a forward stroke of the users hand thereto to receive Water through the scoop, convey said water through the tunnel member, and eject said water through the nozzle in a form of a stream.

2. An amusement device for use upon a body of water comprising an elongated open-ended tunnel member tapering from one end to the other end, said one end being bowed toward the other end and shaped to a gathering means, the other end of said member being shaped to a stream-forming means, said tunnel member being positionable in an upwardly-sloping direction over said body of water with the underside of said member above and adjacent the surface of said body rof water, the upper side of said member remote from the surface of said body of Water, the gathering means submerged below and adjacent the surface of said body of water, and the streamforrning means adjacent to and spaced above said body of water, and means exteriorly of and on the upper side of said tunnel member between said gathering means and said stream forming means for insertion therein of a hand of a user, said tunnel member being operable when in the aforesaid position with the hand of a user inserted in said means upon application of -a forward stroke of the users hand thereto to receive Water through said gathering means, convey water through said tunnel member, and eject Water through said stream forming means in a form of a stream.

3. An amusement device for use upon a body of water comprising an elongated open-ended tunnel member tapering from one end to the other end, said one end being bowed toward the other end and shaped to a scoop, the other end of said member being shaped to a nozzle, said tunnel member being positionable in an upwardlysloping direction over said body of water with the underside of said member above and adjacent the surface of said body of Water, the upper side of said member remote from the surface of said body of Water, the scoop submerged below and adjacent the surface of said body, and a nozzle adjacent to and spaced above said body of Water, and a flexible 100p exteriorly of and on the upper side :of said tunnel member between said scoop and nozzle for insertion therein of a hand of a user,

said tunnel member being operable when in the aforesaid position with the hand of a user inserted in said loop upon application of a forward stroke of the users hand thereto to receive water through said scoop, convey said 'Water through the tunnel member, and eject said water through the nozzle in a form of a stream.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 117,723 Baker Aug. 8, 1871 952,313 Droz Mar. 15, 1910 2,983,508 Modine May 9, 1961 

1. AN AMUSEMENT DEVICE FOR USE UPON A BODY OF WATER COMPRISING AN ELONGATED OPEN-ENDED TUNNEL MEMBER TAPERING FROM ONE END TO THE OTHER END, SAID ONE END BEING BOWED TOWARD THE OTHER END AND SHAPED TO A SCOOP, THE OTHER END OF SAID MEMBER BEING SHAPED TO A NOZZLE, SAID TUNNEL MEMBER BEING POSITIONABLE IN AN UPWARDLY SLOPING DIRECTION OVER SAID BODY OF WATER WITH THE UNDERSIDE OF SAID MEMBER ABOVE AND ADJACENT THE SURFACE OF SAID BODY OF WATER, THE UPPER SIDE OF SAID MEMBER REMOTE FROM THE SURFACE OF SAID BODY OF WATER, THE SCOOP SUBMERGED BELOW AND ADJACENT THE SURFACE OF SAID BODY, AND THE NOZZLE ADJACENT TO AND SPACED ABOVE SAID BODY OF WATER, AND MEANS EXTERIORLY OF AND ON THE UPPER SIDE OF SAID TUNNEL MEMBER BETWEEN THE SCOOP AND NOZZLE FOR INSERTION THEREIN OF A HAND OF USER, SAID TUNNEL MEMBER BEING OPERABLE WHEN IN THE AFORESAID POSITION WITH THE HAND OF A USER INSERTED IN SAID MEANS UPON APPLICATION OF A FORWARD STROKE OF THE USER''S HAND THERETO TO RECEIVE WATER THROUGH THE SCOOP, CONVEY SAID WATER THROUGH THE TUNNEL MEMBER, AND EJECT SAID WATER THROUGH THE NOZZLE IN A FORM OF A STREAM. 